My blog concerning mostly local backyard wildlife, but also dealing with folklore, general lifestyle in Japan, aikido, karate, hiking, Japanese politics, English teaching, and whatever else takes my fancy at the time. Don’t expect regular updates! What you can expect is my point of view and interpretation of my corner of the world.
Come back and re-visit older posts from time to time. New pictures or video footage gets added as it becomes available – I can’t book a studio session with wildlife in advance…
And please, if you want to comment or ask a question, by all means do so. (Hint: short comments with no references to anything in the posts get picked up by my spam detector)
Enjoy!
Contact Wild in Japan
Wild in Japan 
Hi Andrew,
Greetings from the Cape (SA). We’ve been following each other’s blog for some years now. Am as curious about the wild goings on over in Japan, and I think we first connected over one of your posts on snakes….. a long critter climbing over an apartment building? I’ve had one visit to Japan, and snakes (although not the hot topic) came up when hubby and I were out hiking trails in Daisetsuzan.. The highlight of the trip was a visit to Jigokudani hot springs (in summer) and visiting the snow monkeys. Am interested in whether you have knowledge or have visit these charismatic creatures? Experiencing HWC on the urban edge here in Cape Town with our raiding monkeys (Chacma baboons) and am very curious to know whether by feeding the macaques it curtails their raiding habits? If you come across any information would love to link with your post.
Seeing Japan highlighted now through the media and all eyes on the Olympics, thoughts are with the citizens and participants to stay safe through the Covid nightmare.
Best wishes,
Liz.
Hi Liz,
My encounters with wild snow monkeys have been spotting a mother and baby in Nikko, one running out in front of the car in Hanno and that fabulous encounter on Mitsosan last year.
Unfortunately, I haven’t heard of any research on whether or not feeding macaques effects their raiding habits. I will let you know if I do.
Best wishes,
Andrew
Dear Andrew, I am sorry for the late reply. The project was cancelled so I forgot about all the people that I asked. I’d like to thank you very much for the courtesy and wish you all the best!
Dear Andrew,
I stumbled across your blog via Google search and since I couldn’t find your e-mail address anywhere on this site, I’m asking in the comment section:
I would like to use your photo of Gichin Funakoshi’s grave (see link below) for a German book publication about Shotokan Karate. It will be shown in a chapter that deals with the saying “karate ni sente nashi” that is found on the gravestone.
I am asking for your permission to use and edit (crop, contrast etc) this photo for commercial use. Of course you will be mentioned as the copyright owner in the list of illustrations as well as attributed in any way you wish. However, I’d have to ask for a higher resolution of this photo and your full name. Thank you very much!
link: https://i0.wp.com/i60.photobucket.com/albums/h40/strewthbruce/wild%20in%20Japan/Kamakura%202014/CIMG1051_zpsd996438a.jpg
Best regards,
Philipp
Hi Philipp.
Thanks for the shout.
I’d be happy to let you use the photo. If you can give me an email address I can send you the original photo at full resolution.
You can contact me privately at wildinjapan@gmx.com
You might also like to follow Japan Nature Guides (www.japannatureguides.com) and read “The Nature of Japan”
Absolutely!
Thanks for the link, and I really want to get those field guides.
Okutama, Mitake are on my wish list for the next trip in April but will only be in Tokyo for 2 days this time. Your posts might help me convince my partner a day out there will really be worth it. Anyway, I am doing the itinerary!
Never contemplated that there might be wildlife in Tokyo to focus on! Silly me.
Thanks for the shout, Tony.
Actually, the far western reaches of Tokyo, the Okutama region, are full of wildlife. There are some great hikes out there.
But even in the main metropolitan areas you can find parks and gardens which contain surprises if you keep your eyes (and ears) open.